St Kilda midfielder Zak Jones has been handed a one-game suspension for striking Brisbane defender Noah Answerth in the VFL.
Jones made his return to the field on Saturday at Trevor Barker Beach Oval after a heavily-interrupted 2023 to date, having battled quad and Achilles injuries throughout the course of the year to be kept in rehab for most of the season.
The 28-year-old laced up the boots for Sandringham over the weekend to mark his first game since the end of last season, with Jones collecting 14 disposals in the drawn result.
A third-quarter incident involving Jones and Answerth has gained scrutiny of the VFL's Match Review Panel, with the Saints onballer charged with striking the Lions backman.
The MRP viewed Jones' actions as intentional conduct, low impact and body contact, resulting in a one-game suspension. The sanction can be lowered to a $600 fine and reprimand with an early plea being lodged.
In the unlikely circumstance that Jones challenges the charge, the former Swan would be at risk of being unavailable for St Kilda's Round 16 clash with West Coast and Sandringham's matchup with Werribee on Saturday.
The VFL are yet to confirm Jones and Sandringham's decision on whether they will challenge the charge.
Jones wasn't the only player charged by the MRP over the weekend, with Geelong's Jamie Quick facing a similar fate for his strike on Casey's Dan Turner during Friday's match at GMHBA Stadium.
The third quarter incident was graded as intentional conduct, low impact and body contact to result in a one-game ban, or a $250 fine and reprimand if an early plea is lodged.
